Cancer risk after iodine-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism

Journal Article · Wed Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/83.15.1072· OSTI ID:5187501

Holm, L E; Hall, P; Wiklund, K; Lundell, G; Berg, G; Bjelkengren, G; Cederquist, E; Ericsson, U B; Hallquist, A; Larsson, L G ^[1]

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1. Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm (Sweden)

Cancer incidence was studied in 10,552 patients (mean age, 57 years) who received 131I therapy (mean dose, 506 MBq) for hyperthyroidism between 1950 and 1975. Follow-up on these patients was continued for an average of 15 years. Record linkage with the Swedish Cancer Register for the period 1958-1985 identified 1543 cancers occurring 1 year or more after 131I treatment, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 1.06 (95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.11). Significantly increased SIRs were observed for cancers of the lung (SIR = 1.32; n = 105) and kidney (SIR = 1.39; n = 66). Among 10-year survivors, significantly elevated risks were seen for cancers of the stomach (SIR = 1.33; n = 58), kidney (SIR = 1.51; n = 37), and brain (SIR = 1.63; n = 30). Only the risk for stomach cancer, however, increased over time (P less than .05) and with increasing activity administered (P = not significant). The risk for malignant lymphoma was significantly below expectation (SIR = 0.53; n = 11). Overall cancer risk did not increase with administered 131I dose or with time since exposure. The absence of any increase in leukemia adds further support to the view that a radiation dose delivered gradually over time is less carcinogenic than the same total dose received over a short time. Only for stomach cancer was a possible radiogenic excess suggested.

• OSTI ID: 5187501
• Journal Information: JNCI, Journal of the National Cancer Institute; (United States), Vol. 83:15; ISSN 0027-8874
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
HYPERTHYROIDISM
RADIOTHERAPY
NEOPLASMS
RADIOINDUCTION
SIDE EFFECTS
DISEASE INCIDENCE
IODINE 131
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RISK ASSESSMENT
SWEDEN
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
DOSES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
EUROPE
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
SCANDINAVIA
THERAPY
550604* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Therapy- (1980-)
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man